GM foods are not the answer. Most GM modifications are aimed at making the plant more tolerate of pesticides, like Round Up ready soybeans. This means that they can pour more pesticides on the plant and it won’t die. But the poisons get into the ground, the plant tissues, and our bodies. Also as already mentioned, most GM seeds cannot be reused, a scheme of the big corporations so that farmers must purchase seed from them every year. Also they often take more water, fertilizer to grow than non GM crops. Any increase in productivity is not sustainable over time. A better plan would be for people to grow their own food, become vegetarians, and to encourage sustainable farming (often non mechanical in developing countries) throughout the world.

How do you deal with it—love them best you can. I have had two very dear uncles w this disease. I adapted my behavior to their level, for instance, pairing up with my uncle in a game of cards when it was clear he couldn’t follow the rules anymore. I let him choose which card we put down, but I had to tell him when, and even then he didn’t know which to choose to advance our chances of winning. But that didn’t matter. What mattered is that he was included, part of the group, treated as much as usual as possible. I didn’t have to care for either of them, when it became necessary, both ended up in VA facilities as they were veterans.

I think you’re onto something Corinne—I hear she also dated Alan Greenspan.

Its a bad idea. The money saved per person is minimal, yet would cost the highway trust fund millions (maybe billions??). I heard this might mean many highway construction jobs would be lost for the summer. And there’s no guarantee that if the tax were lifted, the oil companies wouldn’t find a way to raise prices even more. What is needed is both a comprehensive conservation and alternative energy plan, as well as somehow curtailing the percent profit oil companies can make, which seems limitless now.

I agree w you M Salling, this is a tragic interfamily conflict. I am not sure what Wright’s intentions were, probably he had many. But some of his words will add much fuel to the already raging fire, our only hope is that this dies down before long. As to their relationship, that is for them to settle and resolve. People judging Obama by his association w Wright are in some ways responsible, because Obama never would have said anything at all if people weren’t equating them as being the same.

Interesting that you feel Obama threw Wright under the bus, as that is what I thought of Wright’s performance yesterday, that Wright was throwing Obama under the bus.

I think one of them should drop out in June. The superdelegates should be forced after the last primary to publically state who they are for, since neither Clinton nor Obama will have enought delegates to win. But expect an explosion if they go for Clinton, thus overturning Obama’s lead in delegates representing the regular folk of the country. I rather doubt Clinton will ever drop out, she’s like a terrier chewing at your ankles. I can imagine Obama doing the gracious thing if he felt it was time.

Because it is almost mathematically impossible for her to overtake Obama in either pledged delegates or the popular vote.

His candidacy reawakened the racism, he himself didn’t reignite it. I think many (although they would never admit it) are looking for any reason to discount him, when it comes down to the privacy of the voting booth, they just won’t vote for an African American.

I just read that there is only a very small chance she will catch Obama in pledged delegates or the popular vote. I like Hillary, but if she gets the nomination due to the superdelegates swinging it to her, I think it will be disasterous for the Dems in the fall.

I do that, wear clothes over that aren’t noticeably dirty. I figure if I change my panties, slip and bra that everything should be good in terms societal hygiene expectations. And like you, I often add to my wardrobe from thrift stores.

I drive everywhere, and know its not a good thing. I do have a short commute, but still. And I use too many plastic bags. I have the reusable ones, but have trouble remembering to bring them to the store.

There’s a neat dishwasher on the market that has separate top and bottom halves. So you can run the whole thing, or just 1/2. Probably is more efficient, and you could use it as you describe also without taking up as much space.

And also political leaders who favor the death penalty and foment war.

China is an incredible mix of contradictions, in some ways beautiful, in others ugly with so many different sides to it. I liked Joan’s comment on China the best. We see one facet and make a judgement. I was lucky enough to visit China for a month in 1997. I didn’t know what to expect, people told me that the Chinese on the street probably wouldn’t talk to me or look me in the eye, as they might get in trouble. And I found the opposite to be true, everyone wanted to talk to me (practice their English) were gracious and open. I saw grandfathers teasing their granddaughters, families strolling the riverfront, people eating in Pizza Huts. I also saw people living in huts with no electricity, the smog so thick in Shanghai that you couldn’t see the sun, and that the people had to get permission to do things we take for granted, like travel around the country. So I think China is many things, just like us. That is not to minimize their occupation of Tibet, or the lack individual rights. Just that any effort to characterize China in a simplistic way will fail, and not reflect the actual China.